This week on TechBuzz China, our hosts tackle two ambitious stories. First, Rui talks about the seven-year ban the U.S. government announced on sales of American components to Chinese telecom equipment and systems company ZTE, and the overwhelming response from Chinese tech media, which has called the ban a “very rude awakening.” China has earmarked billions of dollars for semiconductor R&D and investment, but what impact do these funds have? What is going wrong, and what does this all mean for China’s place on the global tech stage? Ying-Ying covers responses to the report released by Human Rights Watch about sexist hiring practices in China’s tech sector. The Western media response lies in stark contrast to reactions from within China, and our hosts speculate as to why that is. Given that hiring is only one aspect of gender equality, what does this story say about the current state of gender norms in China’s tech industry and how easily things will change? Why is this significant for the future of China…